Topic: baby leaf spinach

[Allotment18]

would like to try growing some baby leaf spinach in a container in the garden
anyone got any help on varietys
dont like the big leafy ones   but love eating the baby leaf raw as salad  :)

[saddad]

Personally I would use leaf beet... aka perpetual spinach... let the root form and then keep strippuing the young leaves...  :-\

[Stevens706]

I'm same as Saddad and grow perperual spinach

[Jeannine]

I would use one called Space

[Morris]

If you want baby leaf you need to sow/plant out quite close together - about 8" - and pick frequently. I use Medania, and Dominant is another good one.  You will need to keep on top of picking as all spinach grows fairly large leaves if left to mature, although they do vary depending on variety. 

I also grow chard/leaf beet for the main summer crop as spinach runs to seed when the weather gets hot. I do love fresh young true spinach, it is a spring treat, (and autumn if I manage to be organised but I am often not) and I also freeze a lot.  Garden spinach is one of those veg that is amazingly superior fresh picked.

Jeannine I haven't even heard of Space I must look out for it!

[grannyjanny]

Just had a look for spinach space & can't find a UK company that sells it. Can you post if you do please Morris.

[goodlife]

these have few different varieties suitable for babyleaves..Hector sounds promising..
http://www.vegetableseeds.net/Spinach_Hector_p/spi03.htm

[Allotment18]

thanks for all of your helps
shall definately give it a go and look forward to eating homegrown yummy fresh spinach
  ;D

[garrett]

I'm probably being stupid, but I thought baby spinach was just the same as normal spinach but just picked when it's young.

[Jeannine]

I can send yo seeds od Space if you would like them XX |Jeannine

[goodlife]

Garrett...not stupid,,you are right..all spinach will produce 'baby spinach'..but some varieties are better for the purpose than others..these so called 'baby spinach' typed will produce larger leaf area from early on and still be tender so it can be eaten raw, like salad crop..other 'non baby' types the leaf area don't spread about untill the plant is more mature and the leaf/stalk itself is more 'tougher' to bear the weight..
It's just matter of quantity and quality early on.. ;)

[Dandytown]

While on the subject, I am growing Galaxy, Toscane, Grandi and perpetual this year.

Galaxy germinates relatively quickly, all 6 in 7 days.  Toscane and Grandi have only put out 1/6 each after 10 days >:(

[Dandytown]

by the way.. I purchased the above as a colection (not inc perpetual) from moreveg for £1.10 (50 seeds of each)

[Hector]

these have few different varieties suitable for babyleaves..Hector sounds promising..
http://www.vegetableseeds.net/Spinach_Hector_p/spi03.htm

I'm also after small leved spinach (my kids don't like stringy stem). I just had o look at Hector, because of the name :) What do they mean by teen and bunching here
http://www.vegetableseeds.net/Spinach_Hector_p/spi03.htm

[goodlife]

..souns like in all stages..but old.. ;D